MOD Pizza

Restaurants forecast by year-end: 11, with additional leases in negotiation or with letters of intent

Why they're hot: This team has bench strength -- co-founder and CEO Scott Svenson is a former Seattle Coffee Co. and Starbucks exec. All-star backers of this concept include former Starbucks North America president Jim Alling and Dunkin' Donuts president Paul Twohig. MOD expands beyond its home state this year to Oregon and California, so far following in Starbucks' footsteps with company-owned stores rather than franchises.